Storage apparatus



Jan. 31, 1933. E. s. TAYLOR STORAGE APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l Z07": 2129:2726 5. 7& z Z07,

E. s. TAYLOR 1,896,021

STORAGE APPARATUS Jan. 31, 1933.

Filed Dec, 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J72 I/n for: Ez zyene J? FE /Z07,

.yl'ttarneyi Jan. 31, 1933. TAYLOR 1,896,021

STORAGE APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan- 31, 3- I v E. s. TAYLOR A 1,896,021

STORAGE APPARATUS Filed Dec. 2, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wfl/MA MQI J52 V 7? for: 5176716 JZZyZOYZ Patented. Jan. 31, 1933 UN TED STAT S PATENT OFFICE zoom 5. OI CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB OI ONE-HALF TO HUGH I. YOUUG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS STORAGE APPARATUS m-Eon ma December a, 19:1. lerlal no. name.

This invention relates to improvements in storage apparatus and, more especially, such apparatus adapted for storing vehicles, for example, motor vehicles and the like.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of improved apparatus for storing vehicles in a confined space or area on a substantially horizontal support making very effective use of the space at hand. v

For the purpose of illustrating m inventi on, I have shown the same employe in connection with a unit area having certain dimensions. It is obvious, however, that the principles of the invention may be embodied in lar r or smaller areas.

By t e use of my invention a large-proportion of any given space may be effectively utilized for the storage of vehicles and, at the same time, any individual vehicle can be placed in storage or removed therefrom with a relatively small amount of movement of other stored vehicles.

Other features and advantages of my invention will a pear more fully as I proceed with my speci cation.

In those forms of devices embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a unit area of storage space showing my improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view showing the means for laterally shifting vehicles; Fig. 3 is a view taken as indicated by the line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view taken as indicated by the line 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view taken as indicated by the line 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a view taken as indicated by the line 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the bearings for the rollers upon which the vehicles are shifted laterally; Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of said rollers; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing other means for laterally shifting the vehicles; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the means for laterally shifting vehicles employed in Fig. 9; and Fig. 11 is a view taken as indicated by the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

As shown in the drawings, Fig. 1 indicates 50 a unit of storage space or area, for example,

a single floor of a building of suflicient size to accommodate substantially sixteen vehicles (when filled to its maximum capacity) in rank and file formation, four vehicles to each rank and four to each file. This unit of space or floor area I have indicated, in general by 10,

the walls of the same being indicated by 11.

Numerals 12, 12 may indicate doors or openings affording access to the floor 10. In the event that the floor 10 is above the ground 50 level, 13, 13 may indicate elevators.

For convenience I shall designate the four files A, B, C, and D and the ranks 1, 2, 3 and 4. Each of the doors 12 furnishes access to one of the files and a vehicle may be moved on its own wheels in any file from one rank to another both backwardly and forwardly. My storage apparatus is so constructed to permit vehicles to be thus moved lon itudinally on their own wheels from one ran to another in any file.

In order to utilize a relatively large proportion of the storage space and still permit any particular vehicle to be removed from the same, it is necessary or desirable to provide means permitting lateral shifting of a stored vehicle from one file to-another in any rank. One of the features of my invention is the provision of such means so constructed as not substantially to interfere with so the longitudinal movement of the stored vehicles on their own wheels from rank to rank in any file. This means permitting such lateral shifting includes two transverse rows of rollers countersunk in the supporting surface in each rank, said rows adapted to support the front and back wheels of a stored vehicle. Since the construction and operation of these means are substantially the same in each rank, it is necessary to describe in detail but one. In the first rank, these two transverse rows of rollers are indicated'in general by 14 and 15, the former adapted to support the back wheels of a vehicle and the latter, the front wheels. I have indicated the individual rollers by 16. The ends of these rollers are supported in bearin s 17 formed in the upper edges of transverse arranged supporting members 18 (see "igs.

7 and 8). In Fig. 6, 19, 19 indicate the front wheels of a vehicle supported on the rollers 16 in the roll 15. .It is to be particularl noted that the rollers 16 are countersun in the surface 10 so that their upper edges are substantially flush with the surrounding floor surface 10. They are also sufliciently small and placed sufiiciently close together so that they do not substantially interfere with movement of vehicles longitudinally on their own wheels over the floor or sup porting surface 10. That is, a vehicle may be easily driven or otherwise moved on its own wheels longitudinally forwardly and backwardly across the transverse rows of rollers 16.

In the operation of the apparatus, vehicles may be driven into any file and located in any .rank desired. It is contemplated that four vehicles be placed in the fourth rank but that only three be placed in ranks 1, 2 and 3. In other words, one file is left entirely vacant with the exception of the fourth rank. The space will thus accommodate 13 cars when filled to its maximum capacity. When thus occupied by cars, any car desired may be removed by laterally shifting cars behind it to clear the file that it occupies. For example, as shown in Fi 1, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 may in icate stored cars. It will be seen that car 23 may be driven baekwardly through the length of its file.

- In the event that it is desired to remove our 24, however, it is necessary to shift car 20 laterally from file B to file A in order to clear file B behind car 24. This shiftin is accomplished by moving car 20 laterally on the rollers 16. This may be done by merely pushing the car sideways, the roller 16 serving as anti-friction devices or conveyors permitting the lateral shifting of the car. This lateral shifting may be accomplished in any suitable manner. If desired, the cars can be laterally shifted manually. I prefer, however, to provide mechanical means for laterally shifting the car and will describe the same in the following paragraph.

I have here shown mechanical means for laterally shifting the cars, said means comprising laterally shiftable pushers adapted to engage a vehicle to be shifted, and means for laterally moving the pushers. Since the construction and operation of these devices are similar, it is necessary to describe but one. I have here shown these devices as comprising a pair of side bars or pushers 27, 27 separated sufliciently to permita car to pass between the same. These bars 27 27 have their ends attached to uprights 28 mounted on the bars 29 supported on the rollers 30, 30. These bars 29 operate in the transverse grooves 31 in the floor 10.

The following means are provided for shifting the bars 27. Such means include.

endless cables 32- sunk in the floor operating over the pulleys 33 and 34. The pulley 33 is an idlerand the alley 34 is mounted on the shaft 35 driven y the motor 36 through 27 forms a sort of cage for a vehicle. Thiscage may be shifted laterally as desired, the bars 27, 27 engaging the wheels 19, 19 of the vehicle to shift the same laterally over the rollers 16. Attachment of the bars 27 to the cables 32 is effected by means of the members 40 having their upper ends attached to the bars 27 and their lower ends clamped to the cable 32 (see Fig. 5). The cables 32 are arranged under the floor surface 10 and the members 40 operate in suitable slots 41 in the floor. The shaft 35, motor 36, control levers 39, and so forth, may be arranged at one side of the storage floor area 10 in a depressed pit 10.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 I have shown different means for laterally shifting the vehicles. Instead of employing the depressed rollers 16, I use a carriage or dolly comprising the two parallel channels 5050, supported on small anged rollers 51-51 operating on the trans- Versely arranged tracks 52-52. For laterally shifting the carria es, I may employ cables 53 similar to the ca les 32 above described. Each of these cables is provided with a pair of members 54 similar to the members 40, above described. These members 54 are adapted to engage the channels 50 of the carriages to shift the same laterally. The chanerally by merely shifting the end vehicle. For

example, as shown in Fig. 1, if the three vehicles 20, 21 and 22 are to be shifted laterally (upwardly as viewed in Fig. 1) all that is necessary is to move the pushers 27 engaging the vehicle 22. This pusher will engage the other pushers and other vehicles so that all three vehicles will be moved by merely moving the vehicle 22. This is true also in the event that (lollies such as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are employed. In such case all that is necessary is to shift the dolly carrying the vehicle 22. This in turn will shift the vewheels 0 the sides of a car to shift the same laterally, 40'

claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

VVha-t I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Storage apparatus including; a supporting surface adapted to accommodate veicles stored in rank and file formation; two transverse rows of rollers countersunk in the supporting surface in each rank, said rows adapted to support the front and back wheels of a stored vehicle and permit lateral shifting of the stored vehicle thereon; a pusher adapted to engage the sides of a car to shift the same laterally, said pusher including a pair of bars sufliciently spaced apart to permit a vehicle to pass longitudinally therebetween; and means for laterally moving said pusher.

2. Storage a paratus including; a supporting surface a apted to accommodate vehicles stored in a plurality of files; and means for laterally shifting a. vehicle from one file to another, said means includin two transverse rows of rollers countersun in the supporting surface, said rows adapted to support the front and back wheels of a vehic e and permit lateral shifting thereon from one file to another, a pusher adapted to engage said pusher including a pair of members su ficiently spaced a art to permit a vehicle to pass longitudinal y therebetween, and means for laterally moving said pusher.

3. Storage apparatus including; a supporting surface adapted to accommodate veicles thereon in a lurality of filestwo transverse rows of ro lers countersunk 1n the supportingl surface, said rows extending from one e to another and adapted to support the front and back wheels of a stored vehicle and permit lateral shifting of the same thereon from one file to another; a pusher adapted to enga the sides of a car to shift the samelaterfi said pusher including a pair of members suficiently spaced apart to permit a vehicle to pass longitudinally therebetween; and means for laterally movin said pusher.

4. torage apparatus including; a suprting surface adapted to accommodate veliicles stored in rank and file formation two transverse rows of rollers countersunk in rank said the su porting surface in each rows a apted to sup rt the front and back shifting of the stored vehicle thereon; a transversely movable carriage arranged below the surface; a pushermounted on said carriage extending above the supporting surface and adapted to en age a part of a car to shift the same latera ly, said pusher normally positioned to permit free longitudinal movement of a car past the same; and means for laterally moving the carria e.

5. Storage apparatus inclu 'ng; a supporting surface adapted to accommodate vehicles in a plurality of files; two transverse rows of rollers countersunk in the supporting surface, said rows extending from one file to another and adapted to support the front and back wheels of a vehicle and permitting transverse shifting of the same thereon from one file to another; a transversely movable member arranged below the supporting surface; a pusher carried by said member extendin above the supporting surface and adapte to engage a part of a car to shift the same transversely, said pusher normally positioned to permit free longitudinal movement ofacar past the same; and means for transversely moving said transversely movable member.

In-witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 10th day of November, 1931. y

- EUGENE S. TAYLOR.

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